The Antler Ceilidh Band is a group of highly experienced and versatile musicians based in the South-west of England.

Core members:

Andrew North (Bandleader) - Double Bass/Bass Guitar, Keyboard, Mandolin, Guitar (+Bass Pedals) Tim O’Dowd - Uilleann Pipes, Whistles, Irish FluteSam Lifton - Drums ​Andrew, Sam and Tim first began performing together in 2012, and since then have performed at hundreds of ceilidhs across the UK.

Ceilidh Trio: Keyboard or Guitar, Fiddle (or Pipes), Caller Our three piece is perfect for smaller events, or for those on a tight budget. Note: Alternative lineups can be arranged on request.

Duos ​The majority of our wedding clients book one of our duos for a performance earlier in the day. These typically take place during during drinks receptions, but we also perform for wedding ceremonies

Traditional Scottish/Irish Airs - Piano & Violin​This is our most popular duo lineup, featuring tunes such as 'My Love is Like a Red Red Rose', 'Wild Mountain Thyme' and 'Calum's Road'.We are also able to perform a selection of light classical music.

Our members have a number of 'strings to their bows', so if you have a particular genre in mind, the chances are we can sort it! Here are some examples:

Gypsy Jazz Trio/Quartet (with the option of female vocals)

Jazz duo/trio/quartet ​

FAQs

How long is a typical ceilidh? A typical ceilidh consists of two sets (around 1 hour per set) with a break in between.

Does your band include a caller?Yes, we'll always assume you require a caller as part of the band unless you tell us otherwise (for example if you are organising a reeling ball, where everyone knows the dances). Our regular callers also double on melody instruments and will often play along with the band after the dances have been mastered. See our video clips for an example of this!

Who will the musicians be?The Antler Ceilidh Band consists of a small pool of musicians who have all played with each other in various combinations for many years. Bandleader Andrew North will always be present, meaning that you can rely on him to ensure your event goes smoothly.

What music do you play?For ceilidh dancing, we play jigs and reels, with a polka and waltz usually included. With Tim on uilleann pipes/whistles we lean more towards the Irish repertoire. For clients wishing for a traditional Scottish feel we use two fiddle players and play predominately Scottish tunes.

Do you provide your own PA and lighting?Yes we do. For a modest additional fee, we also offer the option of using our excellent PA and lights for a post-ceilidh disco.

How much do you charge? This depends on the location of your event and the size of band you would like. Please fill in the enquiry form for a quote. We typically respond within 12 hours. We aim to cater for most budgets and offer discounts for daytime and weekday gigs.

How muchfloor space do you require? For the full 6-piece an area 6m wide x 3m deep is ideal, though we can squeeze into a smaller space if necessary. For a quartet, 4m x 3m is adequate.

Media

Testimonials

Hi Andrew,We just wanted to drop you a message to say thank you for your efforts with the Antler Ceilidh Band for our wedding. The reeling congregation was a little chaotic, but you did very well to extract what little dancing talent there was in the room!Thanks for helping making it such a memorable evening for us.

- Josh and Olivia Reeling Ceilidh + Covers -​ Minterne House, 2017

As Katie's mum (and now Frazer's mum-in-law) I wanted to thank you for all your efforts to make their wedding a huge success.Both the Ceilidh music and the "popular" music were absolutely brilliant, and you certainly got everyone up on the floor for the whole night.I have never seen so many guests dancing and all your band members were absolutely fabulous - thank you!

- D Bassett, Ceilidh + Covers -​ Henley-in-Arden, 2017

Andrew and the Antler Ceilidh Band played at our wedding this July. We signed up to the ‘ceilidh and covers’ package, and it exceeded our expectations. Such a talented bunch of musicians, able to turn their hands to a perfect combination of reeling and rocking. Everybody had a great time at the ceilidh, from seasoned Willow Strippers to complete novices, and the covers section produced some really memorable moments. To top it off they were all lovely people, and Andrew was fantastic in advance setting up the night and answering all our queries. We couldn’t recommend highly enough. It was the complete wedding party package. Thanks again guys,

- Tom & Nicky, Ceilidh + Covers -​ Tolpuddle, 2017

I just wanted to send a quick message to express our sincere gratitude to you all for making our celebration, in no small part, a true success. Everyone had a fantastic time and the feedback we are still receiving about the music and guidance through all the dances on the night confirms this no end.We are already talking about the next 10 year celebration and maybe something sooner so we'll no doubt be in touch again.

- Chris & Sally, Ceilidh Four -​ Poole, 2017

Hi Andrew,I just wanted to pass on our thanks again to you and your band. Despite our low numbers we had a great time last Saturday night. The fact that you got nearly all of us participating was brilliant!​​- Tim Aspden, President, Solent GaffersCeilidh Trio - Blandford St. Mary, 2017​

Thank you both so much for the wonderful playing. Playing interlude music and staying late was much appreciated. Several people said how good the music was. Personally loved the choice for the St Bernard's Waltz - a lovely Burns song played beautifully. ​- Cheryl Ayres, Westbury Scottish ClubScottish Dance Duo -​ Bristol, 2017